Draft:Schmeskal

The Schmeskal family (also spelled Schmeskall, Smeskal, Zmeskal, or Zmieskal), were an extinct noble family who mostly resided in and around the area of what is today Silesia in south-western Poland.

It is possible that the Schmeskal are a branch of the Zmeškal family of a similar name, who also originate from Silesia.

History
It is unclear when the Schmeskal family first formed, but it would have been sometime before 1628, when Heinrich Schmeskal was recorded as being present at a public convention as a member of the Principality of Opole.

The family started to gain prominence in the early 1700s, particularly with Heinrich Josef von Schmeskal, who, on the 1st of October 1716, was granted the "Böhmischer Grafenstand" status. Heinrich was an especially prominent figure in the family. After gaining Grafenstand (count) status for his contributions to the imperial civil service, he became administrator of Breslau, and owned property in Leobschütz, where his widow resided in 1737. He left no children.

The family held various estates, mostly in Silesia, but also in places such as Upper Lusatia. Some of these estates included Grauden, acquired in 1799, Oschyn, acquired in 1788, and Sauerwitz, acquired in 1720.

A work from 1887 noted them as "still flourishing in noble branches in recent times".

Notable Members

 * Heinrich Josef von Schmeskal ( 1716-1730, died bef. 1737): A more notable member of the family, see "History" above.
 * Carl Joachim von Schmiskall ( 1733): Was most likely a government member in present day Saxony, his name appears in a handwritten signature on a seal from 1733.
 * Heinrich Schmeskal ( 1628): One of the first known members, see "History" above.
 * Major Johann van Smieskal: Briefly mentioned in some sources, he is noted as being a count.

Coat of Arms
There are several variants of the Schmeskal coat of arms, but the most common version features a red ox leaping to the right in front of a silver background, sometimes with a gold band around it's body.

The crest comprises of three ostrich feathers in red, silver, and red (or silver, red, silver), with mantling also in red and silver.